SC agrees to hear Sahara's plea to allow Roy to go abroad

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear Sahara Group's plea seeking modification in its order restraining Subrata Roy from going abroad till the Group hands over title deeds of its properties worth Rs 20,000 crore to SEBI.

A bench headed by Justice KS Radhakrishnan, before whom the matter was mentioned by Sahara's counsel, said that it will consider the Group's plea tomorrow in-chamber.

Sahara had moved the apex court on October 29 claiming that there was a mistake in its October 28 order restraining Roy from leaving the country till it hands over title deeds of its properties to SEBI.

The bench had yesterday refused to pass any interim order for allowing Roy to go abroad before his Group files a review petition seeking to modify the earlier order.

Senior advocate CA Sundaram, appearing for the Group, had submitted that he is not seeking review of the order but only pointing out the difference in the decision which was uploaded on the Supreme Court website and the order passed in the open court.

The counsel had submitted that while passing the order, the apex court had said if documents are not handed over to the market regulator within three weeks only then Roy would be restrained from going abroad.

Holding that it was playing "hide and seek" and cannot be trusted any more, the court had directed Sahara Group to hand over title deeds of its properties to SEBI.

Making it clear that there is no "escape" from depositing the investors' money with the market regulator, the apex court had asked Sahara to also give valuation reports of properties to SEBI which will verify worth of assets.